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Business Briefs

Chambers set schedules* The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet Tuesday at noon at Froso’s. The presentation is a spotlight on member businesses. Lunch is $13. For more information call 262-9814.

* The Kenai Chamber of Commerce will meet Wednesday at noon at the Merit Inn. A Kenai Peninsula real estate update from mortgage planning specialist Aaron Swanson is planned. Lunch will be $15. The chamber is requesting those planning to attend to RSVP at 283-7989.

CPH honors Nurse of the YearJeanette Pugh, RN was honored as the 2012 Central Peninsula Hospital Nurse of the Year at a reception held on May 11 in the Denali Room. The Nurse of the Year is sponsored by the Nursing Professional Practice Committee at CPH. Nominations are solicited, reviewed and chosen by a multidisciplinary committee including nursing and non-nursing staff. Pugh has worked in the Emergency Department since 2005, where she has been active in the education of nursing staff both as a preceptor and managing an online Emergency Nursing Orientation course. She has also been instrumental on an improvement project to reduce triage times in the emergency department.

Jeanette serves as a resource for the department regarding procedures and medication administration. As a team leader, she manages all kinds of crises and keeps a level head while maintaining awareness of what is going on throughout the department.

“Jeanette stands up for her patients and is able to do what’s needed in every circumstance,” shared Shayne Pond, RN, Director of the Emergency Department. “We’re very proud of her!”

Kikay Fashion Boutique plans open houseThe Soldotna Chamber of Commerce presents an open house at the Kikay Fashion Boutique at the “Y” in Soldotna on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. There will be complimentary gift bags for the first 25 guests. Beverages and refreshments will be served.

June SBDC workshops announced“Starting a Business” — June 12 at 1 p.m. or July 10 at 10 a.m.

Bryan Zak will cover basic questions and offer helpful resources in a free 2-hour workshop on “Starting a Business” while preparing you for a productive relationship with Alaska Small Business Development Center and our partner programs, and explain the value of our free counseling services. This seminar is in Suite 12 at the Red Diamond Center at 1 p.m. or 10 a.m. so please register for the date and time that best fits your schedule.

“Facebook” — 2-day Seminar at KPC — 4 to 7:30 p.m. June 25 and June 26, fee is $50 per session if you take only one session. If you attend both, you will receive a refund of $20 when you sign in on Tuesday because both classes are important to be embedded in developing this social media process. Requirements for both days: Laptop with Wi-Fi and your own personal Facebook account. Register by June 18.

June 25 — Monday: There will not be time to solve each individual’s profile issues but the first 101 Facebook Novice class will help you become familiar with Facebook and explore your personal profile while trouble-shooting preliminary problems.

June 26 — Tuesday Requirements: Add the Active Facebook Fan Page

201 Facebook Intermediate and 301 Facebook Advanced

201 Facebook Intermediate — learn how to stay visible to fans, how to be more engaging, how to get more interaction from fans.

301 Facebook Advanced — This Advanced section is taught for the progressive Facebook user where you will learn: 1) How to understand and use Facebook’s insights. 2) How to use advertising on Facebook. 3) Take-home tutorial to recap on hands-on workshop.

Farm equipment demonstration and rental announcedThe Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District invites the public to a field demonstration of tillage and planting equipment for small farms, today, 4 to 6 p.m. at Ridgeway Farms, 5220 Strawberry Road. The demonstration will include a chisel plow, spring tooth harrow, bed shaper, plastic mulch layer, and flower/vegetable planter. NRCS equipment expert, Catherine Hadley, will be on hand to talk about when to use different types of tillage equipment and their effects on soil quality. Information on the District’s farm equipment rental program is available on-line at www.kenaisoilandwater.org. For more information, call 283-8732 ext. 108.

High Tunnels for gardening cost-shared by USDAUSDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service will continue to fund high tunnel garden structures through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program through fiscal year 2013. Applications must be completed by June 15.

Land and producer eligibility criteria must be met and a NRCS cost-shared high tunnel will be part of a comprehensive conservation plan. For more information or an application package call the NRCS Kenai Field Office at 283-8732 or visit www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov.

Application deadline extended to June 15 for Alaska Business Week high school leadership program

Business Week application period extendedThe application deadline for the Alaska Business Week program has been extended to June 15 to allow late registrants the opportunity to submit their completed forms and information.

This program will be held on the UAF campus this year from July 14 through July 21. This weeklong summer program is designed to give students hands-on experience in running a company, and an opportunity to explore their leadership talents and skill sets.

Students from all over the state are teamed up with senior business executives who act as company advisors to lead the student teams to winning strategies. Students participate in nine presentations by Alaska business leaders and explore subject areas in leadership, ethics, marketing, entrepreneurship, and future jobs in Alaska.

Two college credits are available for successful completion of the program. Tuition for the weeklong program is $450 covering room, board, tuition fees and program materials. Many scholarships are available for tuition and transportation. The program is open to all high school students finishing 9th through 12th grades.